South Africa have beaten New Zealand to take the 2023 Rugby World Cup for a record fourth time. With the 12-11 win over the All Blacks, South Africa have successfully defended their 2019 title and have become the most successful country in rugby history.
The final at the Stade de France in Paris was a close game even though the Springboks had a half-time lead of 12-6. The All Blacks suffered a decisive loss in the first half when their captain Sam Cane was sent off and the team was reduced to fourteen players.
South Africa reached the finals by narrowly defeating France and England by one point in the quarter- and semi-finals.
The two nations are probably rugby’s greatest rivals. However, they have met in the finals only once – in 1995 when South Africa won their home tournament.
The win for the Springboks has helped raise the spirits of the African nation at a troubling time for a country with many problems – high unemployment, power blackouts, crime and corruption.
Opening match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup between France and New Zealand
Image : JaumeBG, CC BY-SA 4.0,
via Wikimedia Commons
